Should I get Nitrox cert for Bonaire?

[gypsyjim]

Been there, done that, got the pissed of computer. ...for some reason, it didn't like me diving straight O2 at 4ata.

(galvanni, you'll understand that once you take the nitrox class and laugh at it)

Pissed off computers are all I think I have ever owned. Computers and I don't exactly get along, on dry land. Put us UW, together........mayhem!

 

[DiveMaven]

Get a nitrox compatible computer, you don't need a "gas switching" one unless you're going to get into decompression diving IMO. You can either dive 21% EAN (air) or the 32% that most ops on Bonaire pump, depending on what you're diving.

 

[DiverVince]

So I guess the possibility of switching gases could be possible. So I still have not gotten my first computer yet - deciding between Oceanic Veo 3.0, Mares Nemo Wide, or one of the Suuntos (Vyper non AI or Zoop). What should I look for in particular with respect to this gas switching when deciding between the computers?

Well I recently spent two weeks diving with the Oceanic Pro Plus 2 which is air integrated. Absolutely love the computer! Will also handle any EA combination from 21% to 50% with no problem.

 

[D_B]

I notice a few posts on nitrox being safer, when you take your class you will understand in what limited way that might be true
.. but for most divers that do nitrox, they do it for lessoning the cumulative affects of nitrogen during multiple dives per day, per week

 

[DiveMaven]

It's always fun to throw in a tank or two of air when you've been diving nitrox for awhile, and pay attention to the difference in nitrogen loading on your computer. It was the only times during our last trip to Bonaire that our computers showed "NDL time remaining" instead of "air time remaining" (we have AI computers) fairly consistently.

 

[TheWizard]

I notice a few posts on nitrox being safer, when you take your class you will understand in what limited way that might be true
.. but for most divers that do nitrox, they do it for lessoning the cumulative affects of nitrogen during multiple dives per day, per week

Yes and No.
As a practical matter, the advantage of using Nitrox shows up most clearly on subsequent dives following one with a modest surface interval, say 45 minutes.
Your limits on air will be compromised quite a bit, but not nearly so much on Nitrox.

 

[D_B]

I was referring to some people diving nitrox but using air NDL's .. and the difference in safety is only on paper, statistically you wont find the difference
if you dive nitrox to it's NDL, then there is no difference in nitrogen loading between it and air

 

[spectrum]

I would do it beforehand so you don't waste a moment of potential dive time.

$99 is pretty much the norm with the majority of agencies that don't require a dive. Be sure the class does include a lab session where you run the testing process.

By taking the class beforehand you will have the knowledge to get up to speed on flying your dive computer in nitrox mode.

You can do it on air but may hit some limits and will have a diminished safety margin.

Pete

 

[TheWizard]

I was referring to some people diving nitrox but using air NDL's .. and the difference in safety is only on paper, statistically you wont find the difference
if you dive nitrox to it's NDL, then there is no difference in nitrogen loading between it and air

This is true, but on most Bonaire dives, I don't seem to recall getting close to NDL very often on Nitrox, using a single AL80.

I'm aware that some folks leave their computers set on 21% O2 while diving with 32% O2 and call it an additional margin of safety. This is true so long as you don't go below 110 feet, but I don't recommend this practice.
I set my computer on the mix % I wrote on the tank and deal with safety in other ways...

 

[gypsyjim]

This is true, but on most Bonaire dives, I don't seem to recall getting close to NDL very often on Nitrox, using a single AL80.

I'm aware that some folks leave their computers set on 21% O2 while diving with 32% O2 and call it an additional margin of safety. This is true so long as you don't go below 110 feet, but I don't recommend this practice.
I set my computer on the mix % I wrote on the tank and deal with safety in other ways...

This may work for reducing N2, but they are then ignoring the O2, which can also have serious consequences, if you don't pay attention to your O2 partial pressure over a series of dives. The consequences of failing to monitor your O2 pp can be just as disastrous as failing to track N2 accurately.

You are exactly right: don't try to trick your computer. Computers may not be the perfect answer and are no substitute for using your brain, but if they do not have accurate input they are worse than useless.